IconSiam

Mall culture may have faded away in the west, but it's still alive and well here in the Big Mango.

shuttle boat to IconSiam

Bangkok's newest mall is called IconSiam. It's been under construction for years, and it finally opened a few years ago. It's on the river, which is a little bit out of the way for me, but I finally had the chance to make my way over there a few weeks ago.

on the river

IconSiam is built across from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on the Thonburi side of the Chaophraya River. The best (and most atmospheric) way to reach the mall is by taking the free shuttle boat down the river from the central pier at Saphan Taksin BTS Station.

approaching the mall with a mall ferry departing the dock

I hopped aboard the shuttle boat. As I approached the mall, I was immediately impressed. I knew it was going to be something special, but I had no idea how big and fancy this mall was going to be. Step aside, Siam Paragon! There's a new big mall in town.

the newest, fanciest, biggest mall in the city

The mall is the site of the largest fountain in Southeast Asia. On special occasions, the mall puts on a water and light show like something you would see at one of the best Vegas casinos. It's also home to one of the city's new museums, which I haven't had the chance to visit yet. The museum is called the "Heritage Gallery" or something like that, and displays ancient Thai art.

the entrance to the mall

entering IconSiam

I visited the mall on a weekday, so it wasn't crowded. As I entered the foyer, I was impressed by the burnished bronze, silver, and gold metalworks decorating the ceiling, giving the impression of autumn leaves. Even the air smelled good. I think the entire mall is lightly perfumed in a fresh, tropical scent.

bronze, silver, and gold metalwork

IconSiam is 8 stories tall, and houses a 7-story department store, two food courts, a cinema, and Thailand's first official Apple Store!

the huge and opulent interior

On the upper floor, an elegant food court served Thai and Western Cuisine in a luxurious setting. It's kind of weird to feel under dressed when going to the mall.

food court at the mall

A balcony on the 8th floor has a few restaurants and plenty of seating looking out over the river and across to downtown. One of the restaurants is a HOBS (House of Beers), which hosts live music on Friday nights.

looking out over the Chaophraya River and downtown

Everything about IconSiam seems excessive. It feels too big, too fancy, and too decadent. But, in Bangkok, it's perfect. IconSiam perfectly captures the essence of the City of Angels. It's a temple to Capitalism and Hi-So lifestyle. It's Bangkok through and through, and I love it for that.

leaving the mall